report on the .243

[shotgunner]

I said I would shoot a deer with my .243 before sending it to Shaw for a barrel in .358. Well, I had a chance at a big doe at about 125 yards. This deer was at least a 3 year old, she had a head bigger than any of the bucks we have taken this season. I hit here where the neck meets the chest and the little bullet, a 100 grain Hornady, exited just behind the other shoulder. It was much too low for the spine. The bullet caught part of the shoulder blade on the way out and made a hole the size of a baseball. It was one of those "instant kills" you read about. The deer stiffened and fell like a tree. All in all I would say that was pretty good performance from the round. If my daughter wasn't a lefty I would keep it for her. As is is I am still going to re-barrel. It might not shoot as well as it does now, my guess is that it will, but I am sure it will take a deer cleanly. I would even be willing to take a running away shot with the .358, something I am sure the .243 would not handle. I know that one deer is not enough to judge a cartridge on, 10 would not be enough.  Next year I will try the .358 and I bet I will have much the same story. I like exit wounds and am sure I will get them with a big bullet, Shotgunner

[hicard]

You have a tough choice.  I have both calibers and love them both.  The 358 is really underated for what it can do.  Too bad it is not regularly produced in bolt actions.

[ponydog80]

My son's .243 handi is sweet....he bagged a coyote from about 125 yrds..and it never too another step...shooting over the counter 80 grain Cor-lokt Remingtons.......but we were a bit disappointed when after watching the video I took of his deer shot at about 110 yards....we saw the point of impact....you could not have drawn it up better.....the deer makes the tell tale forward arched lurch, that a hit deer makes...then headed out to our left.....darkness was less than 30 minutes away..but we wanted to give him time.......we looked that evening and gave up...came back at first light, and began a search that began 50 to 100 yards from the shot...and grew in circles larger and larger...then back in ...smaller and smaller.....nothing.....we even headed for the lowest draw and followed it all the way to the nearest tank.....nothing....at that point I longed for a .270 or .280 as my sons gun caliber.....the deer was a very nice 13 point.....visible from the video......would have been his largest Texas deer....we have been lucky to take two deer in the past two years with his gun......so was this just bad luck.....or a very strong deer??

[shotgunner]

That is why I like bigger bullets, they leave a blood trail. I have trailed several deer that were shot by others and made one remarkable recovery, but do not like the skimpy blood trails. Even the 25s do a little better in this regard. With the right bullet, in the right spot the 243 is poison. Maybe it should be considered like a 410, an experts gun. I sent the 700 to Shaw yesterday, in .358 it will come out the other side and let a lot of cold air in. Once in a while you run into a deer that will not give up, or just gets lucky. Your video seems to be the cure to the story that goes, I hit him right behind the shoulder and he just ran away. I always wanted to know how they knew where they hit a deer that got away. I am going with a 7-08 or 257 Roberts for the kids, or a slightly down loaded 270. Good luck and keep that kid of your's hunting. Shotgunner

[flintlock]

One deer doesn't tell the story...but try about 130...thats how many I've killed with my .243...nothing wrong with with it for average sized deer...
The 80 grain Remington load is a bit soft though...doesn't always exit on deer...The Hornady, Federal Premium in Nosler Partition and Grand Slam almost always exit...if your gun likes the lighter bullets...the Federal Premium in 85 grain Sierra BTHP is a good bullet...more pass throughs than the Winchester PowerPoints or the Federal Sierra 100gr SPBT...Good Luck...flintlock

[shotgunner]

I did not really like the ADL in 243. Yes it did shoot, but lots of others will do that. Now that I have dies and brass and loads I have worked on I will probably buy another. It will need to be the right gun, maybe a Sako forester or even an 88 Winchester. I might go with an Encore barrel for now. Perhaps a varmint weight gun. I am sure I will love this 358.

[gunnut69]

The 243 is at the lower end of the power needed for whitetail deer.  Still with a premium bullet it will almost always produce a blood trail. Any rifle can result in a lost deer, even though the shot was good.  I took a really nice 130 class buck several years ago with a 300 WinMag. I used the 200 grain HotCore bullet produced by Speer.  Shooting from a downward angle at a range of around 90-100 yards I hit the buck directly above the elbow and about 5-6 inches below the backline. The bullet angled down across the chest. It broke up on the ribs of the animal and the expected exit area of the ribcage interior was marked with the base of the jacket, embeded  and a cluster of shrapnel wounds.  I recovered the buck even with the driving rain because of blood from the mouth. There was no exit.  I would bet the bullet you fired into that buck didn't perform the way you expected.  He might have been lost even if hit with a higher powered round, if the bullet failed.  I use nothing but premium bullets whenever I hunt.  There is always the chance of that encounter of a lifetime and there are no do overs in hunting..  The 243 is a fine light recoiling easy to shoot rifle. It should always be used with premium bullets and in the heavier weights. I use the nosler partitions in ALL my rifles. Exits are the norm!  The 80 grain bullets produced by most ammo makers are varmits projectiles, designed to blow apart to eliminate passthrus and possible richocets. The 243 is not a great all purpose deer rifle but for a youngster accuracy and not fearing the recoil is more important than pure power. Keep the 243 and switch to a better bullet.  You be better served than with a youngster with a powerful rifle and a flinch.

[Mike in Ct]

Amen to that advice..Any of the upper weight range bullets of proper construction..No Hollow Points...95 to 105 grs will do the job on whitetails..Is it a no fail proposition ?? No but accuracy & not flinching are most important with women & youngsters..I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better rifle cartridge combination for a first scope sighted deer gun..Iron sights I'd go with a marlin lever gun in 35 rem..mike in ct

[dunwerkin]

Shotgunner
I am surprised to hear of your lost deer with the .243  I have used a .243 for over  40 years  with complete sucess. For deer I always used the Sierra  85 grain HPBT  My grandson is using it now. He is 14 years old now and has shot 6 deer with it, all one shot kills, no need to folow blood trails. He says " Grandpa this gun is awesome"  Don't be afraid to push that bullet to it's safe max velocity.